A spectacle of the diversity and complexity of cultures and traditions. Captured moments of experiences and events. Shared and written stories of places seen and visited. Friendships made and treasured through postcards and letters.

Wednesday, 13 May 2015

Sights and scenes: Lučenec

This postcard was sent from Ilona's recent visit to her home country in Slovakia.

Lučenec is a town in the Banská Bystrica Region of south-central Slovakia. Historically, it was part, and in the 18th century the capital, of Nógrád County of the Kingdom of Hungary. In 1918, as a result of the Treaty of Trianon, it became a part of Czechoslovakia. The town has a large abandoned synagogue, built in 1924, which served a large Jewish population before World War II.

Lučenec is the economic centre of the whole Novohrad region, which includes districts Rimavská Sobota, Poltár and Veľký Krtíš. Lučenec and its surroundings were inhabited in the Stone Ages. Slavs moved to this area in the 6th and 7th century as the first permanent settlers and the Hungarians joined them in the 10th century.

Art Nouveau is an international philosophy and style of art, architecture and applied art – especially the decorative arts – that was most popular during 1890–1910. It is considered a "total" art style, embracing architecture, graphic art, interior design, and most of the decorative arts including jewelery, furniture, textiles, household silver and other utensils and lighting, as well as the fine arts. The style of combining Art Nouveau and national architectural elements was typical for a Slovak construction and design.